Tianjin are spending big after being promoted to the Chinese Super League and have already taken Axel Witsel and Alexandre Pato to the Far East.

They still have a foreign player slot remaining and remain keen to land another big name before next week’s transfer deadline.

Borussia Dortmund hitman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Fiorentina’s Nikola Kalinic have both been mentioned as other potential options.

Rooney back in training on Tuesday (Image: 2017 Getty Images)

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But Rooney could stand to make £30million-a-year in China, and has fallen down the pecking order at Manchester United, with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward having given Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford the go-ahead to secure his client a lucrative move.

But Cannavaro has told Tianjin TV that while they made an approach, the Italian doesn’t believe Rooney suits his side and that they prefer one of their alternatives.

“We did make an approach for Rooney, but it was just a chat because he simply doesn’t suit our style of play.

“No further discussion was necessary. The truth is we had more frequent contact with Aubameyang.